GM to offer buyout to some workers in cost-cutting move, about 18,000 employees eligible to take voluntary severance: DJ

General Motors is offering buyouts to salaried workers to help cut costs, Dow Jones reported Wednesday. About 18,000 employees are eligible.

The company said it is making the move now to take advantage of the strong economy and its own healthy performance. The largest U.S. automaker reported better-than-expected earnings Wednesday, fueled by strong sales of trucks and crossovers in North America.

GM was not immediately available for comment.

The automaker is making the cuts in response to rising commodity costs, said CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson. The hope is that if enough workers take the buyouts, the automaker will not have to resort to layoffs.